Ruling on the One Who Prays Alone Behind the Row (Ṣaff)
Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
What is the ruling on a man who performs prayer alone behind the row (ṣaff) in congregation?
If a man performs congregational prayer behind the imam, yet stands alone behind the row, then his prayer is not valid.
"A man performed prayer alone behind the row. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered him to repeat the prayer."
Sunan al-Tirmidhī: 230, Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 682, Ibn Mājah: 1004, Musnad Aḥmad: 4/228, Sunan al-Dārimī: 2/815 (Ḥadīth: 1322)
Chain Status: Authentic (ṣaḥīḥ)
“This ḥadīth has been authenticated by Imām Aḥmad and Imām Isḥāq ibn Rāhawayh.”
Al-Awsaṭ, 4/184
"The Prophet ﷺ saw a man praying alone behind the row. He stood by him, and when the man finished, the Prophet ﷺ said: 'Repeat your prayer; there is no prayer for one who prays behind the row alone.'"
Musnad Aḥmad: 4/23 (Ḥadīth: 16297), Ibn Mājah: 1003
Chain Status: Ḥasan (Sound)
"The prayer of one who stands alone behind the row is invalid, based on the ḥadīths of Wābiṣah and ʿAlī ibn Shaybān."
Al-Awsaṭ: 4/184
“It is established that anyone who claims the prayer of a lone person behind the row or one who does not maintain the row is valid—such a person has no evidence from the Qur’ān, Sunnah, or ijmāʿ (consensus).”
Al-Muḥallā, 4/58, Masʾalah No. 415
✔ The ṣalāh of a man praying alone behind the row (in congregation) is not valid, based on:
✔ If a person arrives and finds no space in the row, he should:
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
This is what I have understood, and Allah knows best what is correct.
Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
❖ Question:
What is the ruling on a man who performs prayer alone behind the row (ṣaff) in congregation?
❖ Answer:
If a man performs congregational prayer behind the imam, yet stands alone behind the row, then his prayer is not valid.
❖ Evidence from Ḥadīth:
❀ Narrated by Sayyidunā Wābiṣah bin Maʿbad رضي الله عنه:
"A man performed prayer alone behind the row. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered him to repeat the prayer."
Sunan al-Tirmidhī: 230, Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 682, Ibn Mājah: 1004, Musnad Aḥmad: 4/228, Sunan al-Dārimī: 2/815 (Ḥadīth: 1322)Chain Status: Authentic (ṣaḥīḥ)
- Imām al-Tirmidhī called it "ḥasan"
- Imām Ibn Jarūd and Imām Ibn Ḥibbān called it "ṣaḥīḥ"
❀ Ḥāfiẓ Ibn al-Mundhir رحمه الله said:
“This ḥadīth has been authenticated by Imām Aḥmad and Imām Isḥāq ibn Rāhawayh.”
Al-Awsaṭ, 4/184❀ Narrated by Sayyidunā ʿAlī ibn Shaybān رضي الله عنه:
"The Prophet ﷺ saw a man praying alone behind the row. He stood by him, and when the man finished, the Prophet ﷺ said: 'Repeat your prayer; there is no prayer for one who prays behind the row alone.'"
Musnad Aḥmad: 4/23 (Ḥadīth: 16297), Ibn Mājah: 1003Chain Status: Ḥasan (Sound)
- Imām Aḥmad said: "This ḥadīth is ḥasan."
- Declared ṣaḥīḥ by Imām Ibn Khuzaymah (1569) and Imām Ibn Ḥibbān (2206)
- Ḥāfiẓ Nawawī called the chain ḥasan (Khalāṣat al-Aḥkām: 2517)
❖ Scholars’ Statements:
❀ Imām Ibn al-Mundhir رحمه الله (d. 218 AH) stated:
"The prayer of one who stands alone behind the row is invalid, based on the ḥadīths of Wābiṣah and ʿAlī ibn Shaybān."
Al-Awsaṭ: 4/184❀ ʿAllāmah Ibn Ḥazm رحمه الله (d. 456 AH) wrote:
“It is established that anyone who claims the prayer of a lone person behind the row or one who does not maintain the row is valid—such a person has no evidence from the Qur’ān, Sunnah, or ijmāʿ (consensus).”
Al-Muḥallā, 4/58, Masʾalah No. 415
Summary:
✔ The ṣalāh of a man praying alone behind the row (in congregation) is not valid, based on:
- Clear authentic ḥadīths
- Statements of the Companions
- The unanimous understanding of many early scholars
✔ If a person arrives and finds no space in the row, he should:
- Gently pull someone back to form a new row
- Or wait until someone joins, if feasible
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
This is what I have understood, and Allah knows best what is correct.
